PharmedOut

PharmedOut (PhO) is a Georgetown University Medical Center project founded in 2006. It is directed by Adriane Fugh-Berman.^[1] The stated mission of the organization is to advance evidence-based prescribing and educate healthcare professionals about pharmaceutical marketing practices. Stated goals are to: 1. Document and disseminate information about how pharmaceutical companies influence prescribing 2. Foster access to unbiased information about drugs and 3. Encourage physicians to choose pharma-free CME (continuing medical education).^[2]

This organization provides healthcare professionals with pharma-free continuing medical education (CME) and resources ^[3] to unbiased drug information. PharmedOut was founded with funds from the Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education grant program.^[4] Since 2008, PharmedOut has been financially supported by individual donations and largely staffed by a volunteer team of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, scientists, lawyers, students, artists and writers.^[5]

PharmedOut criticizes some medical research and practices, including overprescription of opioids,^[6][7][8] industry construction of and influence on perceptions of diseases and symptoms,^[9][10] misleading information about the benefits of and harms of testosterone,^[11][12] menopausal hormone therapy,^[13][14] flibanserin,^{[15][16][17][18][19]} and Epipens.^{[20][21][22][23]}

Articles in peer-reviewed publications include an article about how Medicare prescribers who accept industry gifts prescribe more medications (and more expensive medications),^[24] how industry uses social psychology to manipulate physicians,^[25] pharmacist-industry relationships,^[26] an article on medical device salespeople and surgeons,^[27] an analysis of pharmaceutical marketing to people with hemophilia^[28] an analysis of how "key opinion leaders" are used to market drugs off-label,^[29] an explanation of drug rep tactics,^[30] an article on basic scientists and industry,^[31] and a study that documents the effect of Why Lunch Matters,^[32] a presentation that is the first to document a significant change in physicians' perceptions about their own individual vulnerability to pharmaceutical marketing.

PharmedOut has also criticized industry support of continuing medical education^[33] and industry support of patient advocacy groups,^[34] and has compiled a list of pharma-free patient advocacy groups.^[35]

References

External links

• Official website